HoustonFox

Heard he (Fuchs) really wanted to come back be involved and is gutted he wasn’t asked. I don’t think Newport was his first choice to get back to the UK but he’s doing it the right way and having an effect. Right mentality too

Keep Calm and carry on…

I’d take Joel

We could be there soon, so might not be a risk!

In order of priority:, LB ST and now for me… GK

His defending is crap but it’s the one footedness that really annoys me. Breaks down so many attacks as well because he can’t trap a bag of wet cement or play a simple pass with his right. The number of times today he could have kept moved going but they just ended going all the way back to our CBs or resulted in a loss of possession was so frustrating

Cover seemed to have a lot of potential when he had mins for us previously. I’d be interested to see who he’s progressing. Definitely looked like he could do the inverted full back role and much better passer and on the ball that Hamza (a low bar)

Devil’s Advocate here. There might have been a lot of competition and maybe that’s how we won it? Plus having him (in theory) coming to a promotion challenger, would be what Burnley would have wanted. Saying that, we knew he was a sick note. So probably is on us! Might have been a small bet though

I what to say “and that’s with a worse team” but I’m not sure I can… 😬

He was a liability for us but I don’t think he was ever a player whose style was suited to the English leagues. Yeah, he was good under Maresca but we were so dominant and well coached (for most of) that season, it was hard not to look good (Vestergard?!). Faes is an aggressive and reactive defender and th slower pace of Europe will suit him better. Loro at Man U is same (and younger of course) but still has time to grow. We needed ready made and someone to fit. He’s not in the Belgian team for nothing. We overpaid, didn’t need him and he didn’t fit. He clearly didn’t want to be here for the last 18 months either. Best for all to move on. Recurring theme for most of our recruitment…

Happy for Patson there. Nice finish!

crazy you say?

I actually think Vestergard in the team is a huge problem. He’s too slow and if he wasn’t playing I don’t think we’d be so obsessed with playing out from the back.

Difference is that a CEO isn’t just a well paying job, it’s completely different. I think Susan stuck around for loyalty’s sake, no other reason. She was KP through and through and I’m sure tried to mentor and lead in the same spirit as Vichai would have wanted and was there to help Top as much as possible. I know for a fact she was highly sought after by other clubs and said no when we were at our highest. She was well regarded by all other execs in the PL and was the one that rallied clubs against the big 6. For her to leave like this means that there’s ultimately something that’s caused the split and she’s finally said she can’t be here, mainly because she’s either feeling responsible for our position and is stepping away or that she’s no longer able to influence and have the mandate she once did. I can see both pieces being true.

Thanks all, confirmed my suspicions on pressing and apols for missing posts a while back. I’m not on here as much as I’d like. I know it was early days for fiorentina but I doubt their B Team are much worse than some of the lower end champ teams. Also pressing is a mindset and tactical mentality. Just find it odd that we dominate opponents but unlike other teams, we don’t harry the opposition when we lose it near their half…

I’m firmly on the Marti train but have a question: what happened to our pressing? During preseason, and vs Fiorentina in particular, we seemed to have a coordinated full front line high press but now it seems to have gone away and back to cooper/RvN levels of just one dude pressing and then others leaving a pass on. With the fact that we have the lion’s share of possession, play most games in the opposition half and want to overcome the low block, why aren’t we doing this some more? @StriderHiryu or others, anyone care to share your thoughts on this?

Our back 4 in general have pretty poor and reactive positioning. They leave so much space and don’t seem to intelligently cover for each other. It really worries me as a lot of not that great teams have made exposed us. I’m not sure having a front foot defender next to Vesty is the best option. He wanders forward and is slow and his strength as we all know is passing, not organizing. I’m not sure either Okoli or Faes are his best partners. Someone who just is a stopper is what we need. Is that Nelson (despite him being still raw). Back to topic and Thomas, he also ball watches and chases too much. If we play Ricky, we need more of a sitter LB I think to help with shape and solidity. He’s fine if we have Hamza on the right who tends to sit a bit more. I’d love LT to focus on defending and just do that for now, he naturally has some good instincts going forward. Finally (I’m sure you’re all like, thank goodness), he needs to get MUCH BETTER with his delivery. I can’t believe as a professional team, he’s still one out our main set piece takers

Need to add that as a keyboard shortcut on my phone because I say it so often

Obvious joke alert but in response to the title of the topic, he does seem to be doing so.... one player at a time...

Feel bad for him, seems a lovely and genuine lad who seemed very excited to have the opportunity with us. His goodbye note was heartfelt. I'm glad we have the money, Stols is as good (apart from his headrush last weekend), if not better, as a shot stopper and cross taker, kicking not as good but not bothered about that as much

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Also has Portuguese name. £100M instantly

Made him look good today, nearly everything at him. Did look confident though but Stols is just as good. Not a position we need